Sunday, February 26, 2012

These first things in Lent

As we bring Sunday to a close and prepare for the work/school week ahead we remember that Lent is with us.  We've moved past the many "first things" of Lent: Ash Wednesday, the first Friday in Lent with the Stations of the Cross and the hundreds of KC fish fry or seafood dinners.  We celebrated the first Sunday of Lent today and we immediately notice the changes at Mass; the purple vestments, no alleluia verse, perhaps we heard the Kyrie and we recited or sung the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei.  Yes Lent is just beginning.

Hopefully many of us are really going to throw our whole selves into Lent.  We will follow the disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  We will abstain from meat and fast on the appropriate days.  If you live here in the Archdiocese of New Orleans our Ordinary has asked us to pick a day of the week, other than Friday, and devote that day to fasting and prayer for a change of heart in the New Orleans area against murder, violence and racism.

Lent is also a perfect time to reflect deeply and personally and to consider what we need to do to make things right.  This may mean going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, it may mean being more faithful to Mass attendance or daily prayer or praying with Scripture.  Perhaps it may mean reconciling with someone or forgiving someone who has hurt or wronged us.  Perhaps it's the right time to make a spiritual retreat, or just get away and reflect.  And for the vast majority of us, who must go to work and school or endure some type of daily drudgery, to do so with a spirit of thankfulness and giving of ourselves to God.

On this Sunday night let me just simply ask; how's Lent starting for you?  Are you on track with your Lenten devotions and promises?  If so, great; call on God to help you persevere.  If the answer is no, realize it is not too late.  Not at all!  Make a decision here and now; I want to use this graced season to grow closer to God.

I hope your Lent will be a wonderful time of spiritual growth, great reconciliation and inner peace.

We've gotten past these first things; let's move on to the next things!

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